Strategy & operations

Find recent insights and solutions related to strategy and operations

To be a truly effective chief financial officer, you have to learn to be the champion of strategic discipline. This strategy+business article, with interviews from leading CFOs across a range of industries, brings five traits of the strategic CFO to light and shows that today’s top financial leaders base their decisions on strategy, not spreadsheets. Read more

Do you need CPE credit? Browse our library of on-demand CPE programs. Earn some CPE and catch up on accounting and financial reporting hot topics at the same time.

7/29/15 | Advisory services

This study highlights recommendations PwC provided the White House on the key attributes Information Sharing and Analysis Organizations (ISAOs) should have to succeed. It is based on analysis of a half-day summit PwC hosted in April 2015 with participants from the private sector, government, think tanks, and academia, and on subsequent interviews with private and public stakeholders. The focus of the paper is on those areas that need prompt deliberation and agreement. Much progress has been made, but much work remains.

In this webcast, PwC's Oil and Gas Deals practice will provide an update on current capital market transactions in energy and trends in oil and gas deals.

7/24/15

Stay current on the career moves of your fellow financial professionals in companies across the U.S.

7/21/15 | Human resource services

This survey presents our analysis of the 2014 year-end assumptions and disclosures under ASC 715-20, ASC 715-30, and ASC 715-60 for 100 companies, comprising Fortune 100 and other large and established companies.

Cybersecurity incidents are not only increasing in number, they are also becoming progressively destructive and target a broadening array of information and attack vectors.

7/8/15 | Transaction services

The U.S. IPO market came back to life in the second quarter of 2015, surging 83 percent in volume and 111 percent in proceeds raised, compared to the first quarter of 2015, according to IPO Watch, a quarterly survey by PwC US.

PwC explains the key provisions of the Dodd Frank Clawback Rule proposed by the SEC and how it may impact your company.

Webcast

Transaction services

In today's M&A environment, the quest to solidify leadership positions and build on core capabilities has created a growing appetite for transformational deals and put corporate acquirers on the offensive. M&A value is at the highest level in recent history and continues to rise. During our webcast we'll discuss topics such as how to evaluate megadeals and consider the value creation potential inherent in such deals.

6/30/15 | US tax services

Global companies investing in the United States face unique opportunities and challenges. Doing business in the US reviews the key tax issues and provides insights to help investors navigate the US business environment.

Are you considering an acquisition? Hear PwC's Brian Ness and Sara DeSmith discuss contingent consideration, continuing involvement and other accounting aspects in the mergers and acquisition space.

6/10/15 | Transaction services

See highlights from PwC's Transaction Services valuation summary for the Automotive industry, which include trends in market multiples, related transaction, and transaction benchmarking analysis summarizing the average allocation of intangible assets and goodwill observed.

6/10/15 | Assurance services

Tax planning and accounting considerations for companies in bankrtupcy and those emerging from bankruptcy.

6/9/15 | Health Research Institute

Spending growth in the $2.9 trillion US health economy is expected to slow in 2016 as compared to 2015, but it will still outpace overall economic inflation. Stock prices, earnings reports and the customer base have increased and that means the industry is financially healthy. Affordable healthcare, however, remains out-of-reach for many consumers.

6/8/15 | Pharmaceuticals & life science

US capital funding for the Life Sciences sector, which includes biotechnology and medical devices, increased 34% in value and 4% in volume during the first quarter of 2015. Venture capitalists invested $2.2 billion in 193 life sciences deals in first quarter 2015, compared with $1.6 billion in 186 deals during the same quarter of 2014. Also, significant to note, Biotech investment during the quarter was the strongest first quarter for biotech since the start of the MoneyTree data series in 1995.

6/2/15 | Real estate

This issue features an article that expands on the trend of US investors deploying capital in foreign markets, as well as the effect of changing demographics on the real estate investing landscape. In “Real Estate: Building the future of Africa,” Ilse French discusses how certain demographic, economic, and political trends in Africa may impact opportunities for real estate investors.

6/2/15 | Financial Services Institute

Insurers are upgrading their technology to support more complex products, lower operating costs, and get closer to their customers. But they can do more harm than good when they make changes that alienate their independent agents. We’ve identified five steps that can help insurers engage agents early and create a transition plan that meets agents’ needs—converting these important stakeholders into enthusiastic advocates.

10Minutes

6/2/15 | Advisory services

When it comes to making your most important business decisions, there are a plethora of factors to consider. Many company leaders probably rely on gut instinct to guide them—what we think of as the ‘art’ of strategic decision making. But what about the ‘science’ side of the equation, data and analytics? We believe superior decision making—done with confidence, clarity, and agility—is only possible through a new combination of art and science.

6/2/15 | Risk Assurance

Companies today need speed, agility, and adaptability to keep up with rapidly changing technologies, evolving customer needs, increasingly globalized businesses, intensifying regulatory pressures and fast-shifting business models. Continuous monitoring and testing is designed to give management day-to-day assurance into the company’s controls and compliance environment. Learn more about the benefits of pursuing an advanced managed monitoring and testing solution in PwC’s report.

6/1/15 | Entertainment & media

Overall deal value started strong in Q1 '15 despite volume at its lowest point in two years. Although it may be too soon to tell which direction deal volumes will trend in the remainder of 2015, we remain optimistic and expect M&A will continue to be robust for the sector. And with the abandonment of one transformative Cable deal, rumors are swirling about potential deal partners. In this issue, PwC provides a summary of first quarter 2015 deal activity, megadeal activity and an outlook for key sectors.

5/29/15 | Risk Assurance

In a time of heightened risk and increased scrutiny over regulatory compliance, a dedicated Ethics and Compliance function can be an asset to tech companies, while supporting their strategic agendas. By empowering an Ethics and Compliance function, and a proactive approach, technology companies can promote collaboration and integration, boost process efficiency, reduce gaps and redundancies, and proactively deal with the compliance implications inherent in new products, new geographies, and other business changes.

Webcast

Risk Assurance

In this webcast, we discuss the 5 key themes of this year's 2015 State of Compliance survey report, Moving beyond the baseline: Leveraging compliance to gain competitive advantage. Insights focus on the current challenges that chief compliance officers and chief ethics and compliance officers (collectively, CCOs) face and how they can expand their roles to become partners to the business, contributing actively to the organization’s strategy and direction.

What are the latest comparable statistics for mergers and acquisitions and active trades in the financial services industry? Check out PwC's quarterly valuation summaries for the Banking, Insurance and Asset Management sectors. Insights include: trends in market multiples, related transactions, and transaction benchmarking analysis.

Webcast

Human resource services

The accounting and reporting guidance around benefits and compensation continues to evolve. In an effort to keep you apprised of the on-going changes and updates, we are pleased to invite you to watch a replay of our recorded quarterly webcast series, designed for corporate financial reporting and HR executives.

5/22/15 | Transaction services

The first quarter maintained the momentum seen over the past several years, albeit a decline from the peaks witnessed at the end of 2014. With a clear return toward the middle market, deal volumes were prominent but megadeals were scarce, resulting in a noticeable decline in total value.

FASB recently made amendments to retirement benefit accounting guidance to provide a practical expedient for employers when determining the benefit plan measurement date under ASC 715 in certain circumstances.

5/19/15 | Human resource services

PwC’s Trends in People Analytics report highlights our recently published 2015 PwC Saratoga US benchmark data, as well as the implications for people analytics functions and key trends for consideration.

Webcast

Assurance services

In this webcast, turnaround and bankruptcy professionals from PwC's National Office and the Deals practices discuss key considerations for companies in distress, including executing a successful turnaround, the bankruptcy filing and reporting process, and emerging from bankruptcy. Watch a replay or participate in our on demand (CPE-eligible) version.

U.S. Oil & Gas deal activity stalled in the first quarter of 2015, due to a low oil price environment. Meanwhile, corporate deals surpassed asset transactions for the first time in five years.

5/18/15 | Financial Services Institute

Are third parties worth the risk for financial institutions? It’s a multibillion-dollar question when every week, yet another business interruption, data breach, or compliance failure seems to surface in the news. We believe the answer is “yes”—provided a firm takes the right approach to risk management. Ultimately, a robust third party risk management program may even make using third parties less risky than keeping those functions in-house.

5/18/15 | Transaction services

The year is off to a rapid start with deal volume and disclosed value up 19% and 92%, respectively, in Q1 2015 compared to the first quarter of 2014. The most notable sectors were Managed Care, Behavioral Health and Rehabilitation, Physician Practice, and Private Equity while Home Health, Hospitals, and Labs, MRI, & Dialysis lagged behind.

5/18/15 | Health Research Institute

The nation’s healthcare payment system is an artifact of an earlier age, focusing for decades on perfecting business-to-business functions. American consumers were patients, not purchasers.This is changing rapidly as individuals shoulder more of the cost of their own care. The healthcare billing and payment model must change as consumers demand systems that reflect the mobile, one-click reality of their lives.

Webcast

Risk Assurance

An unprecedented wave of privacy fines, penalties, and settlements has thrust data privacy onto the agenda of corporate boards across all sectors and regions. In this recorded webcast, PwC presenters summarize the discussions occurring among corporate boards and executive teams and forecast enforcement trends for the coming year.

5/13/15 | Financial Services Institute

Most sell-side financial institutions have sacrificed a coherent IT architecture in favor of speed to market. However, can a firm justify a growing web of applications, tangled in expensive interfaces, now that it’s easier to untangle the mess? In this report, we identify leading application features that can help firms shift to simpler, more integrated IT platforms. We analyze these features across critical functional areas and show how IT executives can make the business case for change.

Webcast

Assurance services

This PwC National Professional Services Group webcast discusses key considerations related to private company accounting for acquisitions, dispositions and debt transactions, focusing on the areas of accounting that are often challenging to pin down. Watch a replay or participate in our on demand (CPE-eligible) version.

5/8/15 | Industrial products

Industrial manufacturing M&A value sees strongest start in four years.

5/8/15 | Transaction services

The European high-yield debt market has seen tremendous growth since the 2008 financial crisis. Prior to 2008, most European issuers with non-investment grade credit ratings obtained financing privately from banks rather than issue debt on public markets. That pattern has changed dramatically, however. More stringent capital requirements under Basel III have prompted European banks to reduce their corporate lending, forcing many lower-rated companies to borrow on public markets for the first time

5/8/15 | Aerospace & defense

M&A activity in the aerospace and defense sector is off to a strong start in 2015 with deal value increasing on both a quarter-over-quarter and annual basis. The largest A&D deal since sequestration was recorded in Q1.

5/8/15 | Industrial products

M&A activity in the chemicals industry remained steady in the first quarter of 2015 compared to the same period last year.

5/5/15 | Transaction services

The pharmaceutical and life sciences (PLS) industry saw an astronomical increase in deal value, as compared to previous quarters and the entire year of 2014. In Q1, there were 35 deals completed, representing deal value of $166.3 billion, a value higher than 2014 total deals alone. In our market spotlight, we take a look at Japan, a country that is facing dynamic changes in the marketplace as medical costs are becoming an increasing focus of the Japanese Government. Additionally, as there are transformational shifts within the PLS and healthcare industries, PwC shares insights on the new era of the “New Health Economy”.

Webcast

Risk Assurance

This recorded webcast explains how to address the demands of customers and regulators around PHI, and discusses the latest privacy, security, and third party reporting trends impacting organizations that operate in the healthcare spectrum.

5/1/15 | Internal audit services

In this year’s study of more than 1300 chief audit executives (CAEs), internal audit managers, members of senior management and board members, PwC discusses the concept of True North, a set of ideals used to guide an organization from its current state to where it wants to be.

4/30/15 | Financial Services Institute

4/30/15 | Private Company Services

Optimism in the economy is up among private companies, as is projected revenue and hiring. And the number of such businesses reporting increased profitability is the highest in a decade. But ongoing talent shortages could be a drag on growth, and the global economy doesn’t inspire tremendous confidence, except for key emerging markets. Read our survey report to hear what else is on private companies' minds.

4/30/15 | Transaction services

Consumer sentiment continued its upward trend in the first quarter of 2015, reaching a ten-year peak due to more favorable prospects for the domestic economy, including gains in employment and incomes, as well as declines in gas prices.

Webcast

Transaction services

PwC’s Deals Practice invites you to watch their recorded webcast, focused on energy deal activity. This webcast offers an overview of the distressed markets, discusses the impact of current commodity prices in the energy sector, and touches on key considerations and opportunities in the marketplace.

4/28/15 | Financial Services Institute

Want to enhance business value while responding to risk, compliance, & regulatory needs? Learn how to go the extra mile.

4/28/15 | Human resource services

PwC and Equifax Workforce Solutions conducted a survey in the first quarter of 2015 to better understand how employers are planning to comply with the new ACA reporting requirements. This survey report contains information provided by 480 employers in 36 different industries across the U.S.

HR Innovation offers advanced thinking about the challenges that should be uppermost on the minds and agendas of organizations and their Human Resources (HR) leaders.

4/17/15 | Private Company Services

PwC's 2015 Employee Financial Wellness Survey tracks the financial and retirement well-being of working U.S. adults nationwide. This year it incorporates the views of over 1,700 full-time employed adults.

4/17/15 | Technology

Through consumer surveys, conversations with influencers, interviews with business executives and social listening, PwC's research presents a holistic view of what's unfolding across business and consumer landscapes.

4/14/15 | Consumer finance

Is it time for consumer lending to go social? How to strengthen your underwriting and grow your customer base with social media data.

4/14/15 | Risk Assurance

In our 2015 Risk in review survey, over 1,200 global business leaders shared how they assess and manage risk in their markets. Results show that correctly managing business risks drives performance and revenue growth.

4/13/15 | Asset management

This publication provides perspectives on the recent trends and outlook relating to asset management mergers and acquisitions activity in the US. There are several key themes that have influenced deal activity in 2014, and we expect these themes to continue to impact deal activity in 2015 and beyond. While some of these themes are expected to impact near-term trends, others will continue to shape the M&A activity in the industry.

4/7/15 | Transaction services

US IPO proceeds slowed down to levels not seen since the first quarter of 2012 when the IPO market was rebounding from the financial crisis, with 41 IPOs raising $6.2 billion, according to IPO Watch, a quarterly survey by PwC US.

4/6/15 | Financial services regulatory practice

The first cyber sanctions program will soon name names.

Webcast

Advisory services

Please watch our recorded Oracle EBS webcast to learn more about the risks of system users bypassing your preventative manual journal controls and what you can do to keep your manual journals aligned with your controls.

3/24/15 | Advisory services

Faced with new and challenging market forces, food companies are changing their strategic approach by focusing on capabilities to drive how they organize and operate their businesses. For winning companies, this focus on capabilities is informing their growth path, including their approach mergers, acquisitions, and divestitures.

Webcast

Risk Assurance

Watch a recording of our SAP GRC webcast to learn about a practical and proven approach to business role design. We walk you through a business role design methodology including strategic, risk, and technology considerations when implementing business roles.

PwC's Kristin Rivera and Glenn Ware discuss the expanded definition of Fraud in the COSO Framework with Adrian Mebane, VP of Global Ethics & Compliance at The Hershey Company.

3/13/15 | Risk Assurance

An effective Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) assessment relies on a disciplined, continuous and business outcome focused approach. Challenges can come at any time during the risk assessment and preparation is key. With a proper understanding of the risks, a good communication strategy and process follow-through, the ERM assessment can be successful providing many benefits including contributing to the strategic and risk objectives of the organization.

How have growth markets been affected by falling oil prices? We look at dynamics driving this, and short-term impact to countries like Russia, India, China and Nigeria.

3/9/15 | Insurance

The insurance industry is facing once-in-a-generation disruption. Top Insurance Industry Issues in 2015 discusses the challenges and opportunities confronting insurers, and provides insight on how to adapt to change.

3/9/15 | Healthcare

In 2014, the pace of deal activity started strong and ended stronger. After the first quarter’s 9.2% increase in deal activity from the first quarter of 2013, we noted a lull in the second and third quarters’ deal pace. However, the fourth quarter of 2014 realized a 29% jump in deal volume as compared to the fourth quarter of 2013. This jump was enough to bring 2014’s total deal activity up 16.3% overall from 2013.

Webcast

Entertainment & media

Making acquisitions of earlier stage companies and companies outside of a buyer’s core industry creates unique valuation challenges and heightens the need to maintain discipline throughout the M&A process. In this webcast, we explore some of the critical valuation challenges that EMC dealmakers should manage in this dynamic M&A environment.

As industry transformation and disruption gather pace, financial services CEOs are more concerned than ever about the limited availability of key skills.

Webcast

Watch this recorded webcast and to learn of the evolution of NoSQL and other database technologies, and the strategies leading companies use to improve the customer experience with tools crafted to handle Big Data.

3/2/15 | Public Sector Research Centre

The role of a Chief Risk Officer (CRO) has gained renewed interest within the federal government. A CRO can empower the agency to identify events that could negatively or positively impact the agency’s ability to meet its mission and objectives and to effectively manage the negative events, risks, while reaping the full benefits of the positive events, opportunities. In order to do this, the role must be established and implemented properly. PwC can help.

With a rise in uncertainty and an increasingly complex government mission, effective risk management has become critical to the success of federal agencies.

Webcast

Transaction services

In 2015, one in two global CEOs, and 44% of US CEOs, plan to enter a strategic alliance. Watch our recorded webcast where we discuss types of strategic alliances and how they can be used as a growth strategy, pitfalls to watch out for, and key factors for success.

2/25/15 | Transaction services

With 2014 noted for a series of record-setting and transformative deals, momentum is expected to carry over into 2015 as deal-makers continue to invest in cloud, mobile and security and seek out emerging technologies such as Internet of Things (IoT).

2/24/15 | Human resource services

Disclosure, valuation, and accounting related to employee stock compensation are complex areas that continue to be a focus for the SEC staff. We have prepared this publication to assist management in identifying and understanding the SEC staff's current focus areas related to stock compensation.

2/24/15 | Risk Assurance

The rate of global outsourcing of both core and support functions within organizations is rapidly rising. In an attempt to further reduce costs, organizations are asking that outsourced vendors play a larger role in supporting critical activities of the business. The result is increased pressure on service providers to provide greater transparency over their controls, so that their customers’ have assurance over their vendor’s operations. PwC’s Vendor Controls Attestation Report (SOC 2+) is designed to manage outsourcing risks and provide assurance over vendor controls, while saving both the vendor and customer money and time.

2/24/15 | Risk Assurance

Organizations are increasingly looking to global markets for outsourcing as a means of reducing costs and increasing efficiencies. In order to receive assurance over their vendors’ operations, companies are demanding SOC (Service Organization Controls) reports prepared by independent auditors.

The metals sector recorded a significant increase in M&A activity during Q4, but 2014 saw a decline in deal value compared to 2013.

2/23/15 | Transportation and logistics

Analysis of deal activity in 2014 revealed a lackluster year as M&A volume and value remained near ten-year lows. Despite subdued performance, we are cautiously optimistic regarding 2015 as advanced economies continue to recover and emerging and developing economies continue to grow. Looking forward, one key driver of improved activity across modes will likely be the decline in fuel costs globally. We expect these prices to provide additional capital for more M&A.

Chemicals industry M&A activity in 2014 reached the highest deal volume in a decade and the highest value since 2007.

2/23/15 | Advisory services

Revenue recognition has routinely been viewed as one of the most difficult finance and accounting processes to get right. It represents one of the highest risks of material error on financial statements, and it is one of the leading causes of restatements. As companies move to the new standard, their compliance risk is likely to increase unless they have a well-planned, comprehensive approach to adoption.

2/23/15 | Aerospace & defense

Analysis of deal activity in 2014 revealed a significant improvement in transaction activity after a lackluster 2013, with a notable pickup in defense-related transactions. The total deal value, $22.3 billion, was slightly above the 10-year rolling average of $21.2 billion. The number of megadeals, or transactions of $1 billion or greater, doubled from 2013 and included the first defense-oriented megadeal since the Budget Control Act of 2011.

2/23/15 | Advisory services

Which technologies are companies investing in this year? The top-three bets in our 2015 Digital IQ Survey preview are important, but they may not distinguish you from the competition. Instead, look to a trio of picks we believe have extraordinary potential, despite being off the radar screen of many businesses.

2/17/15 | Private Company Services

Learn how family businesses leaders are tackling critical business and family issues such as competition, growth, the skills gap, technology, professionalizing their business and family models and succession planning in the 2014-2015 US Family Business Survey.

2/17/15 | Transaction services

Deal activity remained strong from the prior quarter as there was over $105 billion in announced and pending deals suggesting robust M&A activity may continue into 2015. As companies complete deals, integration becomes critical to achieving synergies. In this publication, we explore some of the methods being used to maximize synergies in the R&D function. Additionally this quarter's report's market spotlight looks at how Canada is essential to the development of future IP for companies within the industry. Canada has focused on becoming one of the most cost-effective countries for clinical development among the Group of Seven (G7) industrialized nations.

2/13/15 | Human resource services

The President’s budget includes both new and recurring proposals affecting employee retirement and health benefits.

2/13/15 | Entertainment & media

It was an active year for Cable, Advertising & Marketing and Information & Internet. EMC companies are spending time, effort and money on their strategy and relative position in the digital value chain. PwC reviews deal activity last year and shares its outlook for 2015.

2/12/15

To be a truly effective chief financial officer, you have to learn to be the champion of strategic discipline. This strategy+business article, with interviews from leading CFOs across a range of industries, brings five traits of the strategic CFO to light and shows that today’s top financial leaders base their decisions on strategy, not spreadsheets.

The number of deals valued at more than $50 million came in at 22, up from the 14 deals from a year ago. The total value of the deals grew by 68%, and the average value grew by 7%.

2/10/15 | Private Company Services

Heading into the new year, private-company executives are in good spirits. Revenue forecasts are up, along with optimism about the US economy. So is profitability, which remains at a high-water mark for private companies. But chronic difficulty in finding skilled workers threatens growth at these businesses, and the global economy continues to be watched carefully by them. Read our survey report to hear what else is on private companies' minds.

2/10/15 | Retail & consumer

PwC’s Global Retail and Consumer practice, in conjunction with the International Survey Unit (ISU), administered a global survey to understand and compare consumer shopping behaviors and the use of different retail channels across 19 territories.

2/10/15 | Transaction services

The improving U.S. macro environment, record low interest rates, the stock market’s steady rise, and overall low volatility all contributed to strong U.S. capital markets in 2014. These market dynamics also drove initial public offering (IPO) volume leading to value highs not seen since 2000

2/10/15 | Real estate

In this issue, we are pleased to provide insightful articles in two areas of increased focus within the real estate investing community – the global search for investment opportunities, and the impact of technology and generational preferences on the way commercial real estate is utilized.

2/9/15 | Technology

Companies striving to become agile must think in terms of three kinds of drivers of change: the “operating environment” that might radically reshape their business environment; “strategic responsiveness” or the soft levers they can pull in response; and the “organizational flexibility” that invariably affects their capacity to respond quickly. PwC has identified four key attributes for executives to consider when becoming an agile enterprise.

2/9/15 | Risk Assurance

Retailers are realizing that the strategic management of risk and the reduction of shrink can have substantial impact on both profitability and customer satisfaction. Savvy retailers are using data analytics to add value to their loss prevention and risk management programs. This paper outlines key ways retailers are building successful enterprise-wide loss prevention programs that apply data and analytics.

US retail and consumer (R&C) total transaction value for 2014 hit a five-year high and surpassed the $100 billion mark for the second year in a row.

2/3/15 | Human resource services

PwC is pleased to share with you our second annual Executive Compensation: Clawbacks — Proxy Disclosure Study. This study presents our analysis of the compensation recoupment or “clawback” policies of 100 large public companies as disclosed between 2009 and 2013 in their year-end proxies. We hope this study will be helpful to those of you preparing proxies as well as those responsible for compensation strategy and financial reporting.

Webcast

Human resource services

Please watch a replay of PwC and Equifax Workforce Solutions' webcast discussing many the complexities of the ACA reporting requirements regarding "affordable healthcare" for "full time employees." We discuss new IRS Forms 1095-C and 1094-C, key technical and data integrity issues that employers will need to address, and the unique value proposition of our collaborative end-to-end solution.

Regulatory developments are expected to accelerate the need for regulatory-driven changes in collection functions. Click here to learn how these changes may affect your organization.

1/22/15

Learn how US CEOs are positioning for a new era where overseas business growth is balanced more evenly between developed and emerging economies, and mainstream adoption of digital technologies everywhere is surging.

Are you on or considering using the cloud? The FASB has a new standard addressing the accounting for this new product

Webcast

Risk Assurance

Join PwC and a panel of industry guests for a recorded webcast discussion on what organizations can be doing to enhance their Third Party Risk Management program governance, monitoring and compliance benefits.

10Minutes

1/13/15 | Advisory services

Authors John Sviokla and Mitch Cohen identify five habits of mind that allow self-made billionaires to create value on a massive scale—habits that are in direct conflict with the traits and practices most businesses value and promote in their employees.

12/16/14 | Human resource services

12/15/14 | Industrial products

US shale gas development continues to mature rapidly. Its momentous growth is not only altering the country’s energy mix, and impacting global energy markets. It’s also giving US manufacturing a boost through significant cost savings and job creation, according to a PwC analysis.

12/9/14 | Transaction services

Throughout 2014, the U.S. IPO market put in its strongest performance since 2000, as a broad range of companies took advantage of strong equity markets and an accommodative financing environment to raise capital, according to IPO Watch, a quarterly survey by PwC US.

12/9/14 | Risk Assurance

Recalls can have a devastating impact on the operations and brands of retail and consumer companies. But companies that manage the recall process effectively can transform a potential crisis into a business advantage.

12/9/14 | Technology

The performance of software development teams is an area of high interest for Technology executives—especially with the increasing impact of software on the usability and functionality of high-tech products. PwC’s Software Measurement Study was designed to analyze the current state of measurement and practices in software development environments. The study compared measurement practices to industry leading practices to provide an assessment of software measurement.

12/5/14 | Advisory services

For the past decade, companies have had to contend with a series of large- scale macroeconomic disruptions, along with pressures on costs and earnings. Now, as the global economy recovers from the recession and cost and short-term earnings are not the sole focus, companies can turn their attention to the top line again.

Growing Your Business is a PwC series discussing the opportunities and challenges private companies face, suggesting ways they can make the most of both.

11/24/14 | Private Company Services

In the quarter running up to the midterm election, private companies remained intent — if not bullish — on growth, felt good about the US economy, and signaled greater risk appetite. And decidedly more of them reported profitability increases than we’ve seen in quite some time. Even so, wage hikes and hiring remain modest at Trendsetter companies, and the world economy is giving them pause. Read our survey report to hear what else is on private companies' minds.

The demand for flexibility in the workplace is rising. Find out how to implement flexibility at your financial institution.

11/20/14 | Risk Assurance

Over the years, thanks to the input of thousands of executives from a number of sectors and territories, we have gained significant insight into how organizations are addressing the evolving risk landscape. The findings are published in both PwC's State of the Internal Audit Profession Study and our Risk in Review Study.

11/13/14 | Assurance services

Overview of the bankruptcy process and key financial reporting considerations in bankruptcy.

11/12/14 | Advisory services

When carrying out supply chain network modelling projects in emerging markets, there are a number of challenges to be considered and managed. This paper describes how a sample of these can be overcome.

11/11/14 | Human resource services

PwC is pleased to share with you our Pension/OPEB 2014 Assumption and Disclosure Survey. This survey presents our analysis of the 2013 year-end assumptions and disclosures under ASC 715-20, ASC 715-30, and ASC 715-60.

11/10/14 | Risk Assurance

Organizations often use customer information collected online to understand and effectively target consumers. This process requires not only the attention of the chief privacy officer, but also the chief marketing officer. Almost daily, news headlines underscore the importance of this with data breaches becoming commonplace. For consumers to provide complete and accurate information, they must know they can trust your organization.

11/10/14 | Risk Assurance

Knowing how your advertising spend compares to that of your competitors is an important benchmark that allows you to save money; and using media auditing and benchmarking pools is the definitive way to do this. Or is it? It’s time to question the value of these pools.

11/7/14 | Risk Assurance

With the COSO’s 1992 Control Framework being superseded by the 2013 updated edition on December 15, 2014, now is the time for companies to use the updated framework to evaluate the effectiveness of their systems of internal control over financial reporting. This paper talks through the updated framework and these competencies to evaluate the effectiveness of companies’ systems of internal control over financial reporting.

11/5/14 | Risk Assurance

Going public is a transformational event that pushes a company into view of regulatory, investor, and analyst scrutiny. Companies that delay getting their risk management, compliance and compliance infrastructure in order until after the IPO may be jeopardizing their ability to reap the full benefits of going public. This paper lays out steps that will help companies establish a foundation and cover the company’s critical risks and controls, both pre-and-post IPO.

12 deals valued at more than $50 million came in this quarter, consistent with the 12 quarterly deals a year ago. Total deal value and average deal value increased by 141% each as compared to Q3 2013.

11/4/14 | Transaction services

Eleven mega deals drove significant deal activity in Q3-2014, positioning the R&C deals market to outperform last year's strong performance. Retail sales and economic trends continue to improve, leading to higher levels of consumer confidence as we head into the holiday season. IPO activity slowed in the third quarter of 2014 in terms of both volume and value after strong performance in the second quarter of 2014 with only two IPOs in Q3-2014. However, the pipeline looks stronger for the fourth quarter.

10/29/14 | Transaction services

While momentum continues apace with slightly fewer but larger deals, the third quarter experienced an unprecedented series of spin off announcements from technology titans that signal fundamental competitive shifts. Healthy valuations, built-up cash reserves and the ability to leverage equity enabled strategic buyers to lead the way, while private equity remained active on both the buy and sell side.

10/29/14 | Transaction services

A successful IPO depends on a thorough understanding of how non-GAAP measures can impact the way your company is viewed by potential investors.

10/23/14 | Advisory services

The Global State of Information Security® Survey 2015 is a worldwide study by PwC, CIO, and CSO. Security breaches are on the rise, and it is no surprise to find that as the number of information security incidents continues to mount, so do financial losses. Survey respondents in 2014 report that the number of detected incidents soared to a total of 42.8 million, a 48% leap over 2013. This increase comes at great cost: Total financial losses attributed to security compromises increased 34% over 2013.

10/22/14 | Financial Services Institute

Cyber risk is more than an IT issue; it’s a business issue. Find out how to build a cyber resilient organization.

10/22/14 | PwC Investor Resource Institute

Successful investors continually look around the corner to anticipate the next challenge and the next opportunity, both today and tomorrow. And investors expect the companies they invest in to be similarly forward thinking. So what’s important to investors, and what do they expect of corporate directors? Our second annual survey takes a look.

10/15/14 | Assurance services

Signs your company might be in distress and actions it can take to turn the business around.

10/14/14 | Power & utilities

More than 20 senior power and utilities (P&U) executives and experts from the US and Canada joined us in May 2014 in Chicago to discuss the challenges they’re facing managing their physical asset portfolios and operations. The group came together at a roundtable to share their approaches to Enterprise Asset Management and to discuss leading practices, challenges and lessons learned Participants were drawn from across the gas and electricity sectors, including generation, storage, transmission, and distribution.

10/8/14 | Transaction services

The US IPO market continued to demonstrate significant investor interest in initial public offerings (IPOs) in the third quarter of 2014.

10/6/14 | Entertainment & media

PwC’s Sports Outlook focuses on recent results and potential opportunities and challenges to future industry growth. This edition for North America provides revenue projections over five years through 2018 within four key segments of the sports market.

10/1/14 | Risk Assurance

As leading internal audit functions have transformed to meet increasing expectations, metrics have become a critical tool for Internal Audit to demonstrate its value to the organization and drive its performance against stakeholder expectations. Building on key findings from PwC’s 2014 State of the Internal Audit Profession study, this paper explores how internal audit functions can leverage metrics to both communicate the value they are providing as well as drive results.

9/30/14 | Private Company Services

We spoke to over 200 private-company leaders about what they envision for the year ahead. They told us they're more optimistic about the economy, have ambitious revenue goals, and plan to hire new workers in 2014. Read our report to hear what else they're planning for the year ahead.

9/30/14 | Insurance

At the present time, no two developments in the insurance sector seem more entwined than risk and regulation, and nowhere is this interaction more evident than in developing regulatory expectations for insurers’ boards of directors. While regulators still seem far apart in their search for a single global capital regime, they are much closer to a consensus on terms of governance.

9/24/14 | Technology

Being aware of risks is one thing; taking specific action to address them head on is another. Many companies have tended to look at risk management as something they should react to, rather than something that they should build into the company culture.

9/22/14 | Assurance services

Fewer disposals are expected to be reported as "discontinued operations" under new guidance.

9/16/14 | Advisory services

Organizational Conflicts of Interest pose reputational, legal, regulatory and financial risks - and they are very difficult to detect. Without resorting to overly intrusive procedures, how can organizations manage the risks posed by Conflicts? This white paper discusses some of those risk-mitigation techniques, and how they might apply in your organization.

9/10/14 | Risk Assurance

The world of computing has changed, and executives have begun to realize that shadow cloud activity cannot be ignored. At the same time, realizing the benefits of the cloud with more confidence about the risks and rewards depends on knowing how to prudently say “yes” to the cloud.

Video

9/8/14 | Assurance services

Spin-off transactions are increasing in the marketplace. Is there one in your future? PwC's Neil Dhar, Ravi Rao and Beth Paul discuss the current market trends, key considerations for carve-out financial statements, and how to be successful both during and after a spin-off.

9/3/14 | Human resource services

In the loop

9/3/14 | Assurance services

Spin-offs represent a growing trend in recent years. Is there one in your future? Gain insight into the spin-off process including developing carve-out financial statements and creating a sustainable stand-alone entity.

8/26/14 | Financial Services Institute

8/26/14 | Technology

Technology companies are in a unique position when it comes to digital. Not only should they invest and innovate to transform their own businesses, but their customers are looking to them for help in getting a digital edge. Find out how the Tech industry rates when it comes to Digital IQ—their ability to understand and weave technology throughout the business—and what they can do to reap more value.

8/21/14 | Assurance services

8/20/14 | Industrial products

Industrial manufacturing mergers and acquisitions activity surged in the second quarter, driven by large deals. Dealmakers seeking strategic assets represented the overwhelming majority of all transactions.

8/20/14 | Industrial products

Chemicals M&A activity in the second quarter of 2014 more than doubled in value and volume when compared to the same period last year. Mid-market transactions accounted for 68% of total deal activity and over 20% of value.

Metals industry mergers and acquisitions rebounded in the second quarter, as deals were driven by metals companies diversifying their assets and seeking to manage overcapacity.

8/20/14 | Industrial products

The value of merger and acquisition (M&A) deals in the engineering and construction (E&C) sector in 2Q14 surged to $67 billion from $15 billion in the prior quarter. As a result of the transactions that were involved, the average deal size rose to among the highest levels on record.

8/20/14 | Transportation and logistics

The pace of transportation and logistics transactions accelerated during the second quarter, as measured by both announced value and volume. However, 2014 is not expected to set records for mergers and acquisitions in the sector.

Lawmakers are eyeing reform of the US tax system, which would surely affect multinational companies with globally-mobile workforces.

8/12/14 | Aerospace & defense

An uptick in mega deals and the ongoing interest in divested assets and private equity backed businesses, propelled aerospace & defense M&A second quarter value to the highest quarterly total in three years.

8/7/14 | Transaction services

Extending the positive momentum from the second half of 2013, equity markets set new highs, IPO markets reached activity levels not seen in years, VC investments harkened back to 2000 levels, and economic outlooks remained modestly optimistic across sectors. Private equity (PE) continued to play an active role in technology, though challenged by strategic buyers who are able to leverage healthy valuations and substantial amounts of cash on hand.

8/5/14 | Human resource services

Health care organizations today find themselves amid transformation on numerous fronts: everything from merging provider organizations to converging providers and payors to changing compensation models. Many of these changes are starting to reflect an Affordable Care Act America, along with more general shifts in the US healthcare industry—all of which yield implications for stakeholders across the board, including executives, employees, and physicians.

7/31/14 | PwC Investor Resource Institute

Cybersecurity is more than just a technology issue in the back office; it's a critical business issue that can dramatically impact a company's competitive position. Learn what leading practices are available to investors to determine if a company is reasonably prepared to weather the storm of a cyberattack.

7/31/14 | Risk Assurance

The passage of the General Data Protection Regulation that is proceeding through the European legislature is likely to raise significant challenges in regard to data protection compliance for all businesses that operate or provide goods and services within the European Union. With passage likely, proactive companies are taking steps today that will help them prepare to comply with future requirements.

10Minutes

7/24/14 | Advisory services

Ever wonder why some companies consistently deliver while others disappoint? Faced with the same market, stocked with similar talent, one organization flourishes, while the other flounders. By understanding what makes your organization tick and where there might be breakdowns to address, you and your employees can truly deliver on your strategic intent.

7/23/14 | Industrial products

Important megatrends, such as shifting global economic power, technological advances, and demographic changes, are identified as top-of-mind issues for global airline CEOs, according to our latest report, the 2014 Global Airline CEO Survey. As the changing balance of economic power is expected to have a drastic effect on the industry in the next five years, the report highlights three key areas in which CEOs are planning to respond: organizational structure, technology, and talent.

The market for initial public offerings (IPOs) finished on a strong note late in the second quarter of 2014, recording the highest quarterly deal volume since the fourth quarter of 2007.

6/27/14 | Human resource services

PwC is pleased to announce the availability of our 2014 Health and Well-being Touchstone Survey results. The 2014 survey data contains detailed benefits information provided by approximately 1,200 participating companies in 35 different industries across the nation.

Sustainability reporting is a growing trend. Find out how leading companies are benefitting from increased transparency.

6/5/14 | Sustainable business solutions

Sustainability issues are a priority for today’s investors and will continue to become increasingly relevant as institutions seek to integrate environmental, social and governance (ESG) concerns in both current and future investment decisions. How prepared is your company to present a clear narrative to investors supported by good data?

6/1/14 | PwC Investor Resource Institute

What do investors think about sustainability? Are they incorporating environmental and social issues into investment practices and strategies, and will they in the future? We asked investors about these issues to learn more about their perspectives.

5/28/14 | Power & utilities

In the new norm, leak survey is no longer viewed simply as a compliance activity—it is integrated with risk assessment, work identification, and investment planning to transform integrity management and enhance pipeline safety.

This Pharmaceutical and Life Sciences Alert focuses on in-process research and development (IPR&D) in acquisition accounting.

In the loop

5/20/14 | Assurance services

In the loop is an executive-level series addressing important financial reporting and regulatory issues. Our first edition discusses how changes in private company accounting could affect future deal or financing strategies.

5/12/14 | Assurance services

In cross-border deals, the acquisition of a foreign business can introduce complexities in accounting for income taxes.

5/9/14 | Advisory services

Sustainability has been on the executive agenda for years and it’s now one of the fastest-growing supply chain management trends. More than two-thirds of 500 supply chain executives say it will play an important role in how they manage their supply chains through 2015. When PwC and APICS Foundation decided to explore what the people responsible for executing on these strategies would say about the topic, an interesting picture emerged. Thirty-nine percent of APICS members, the leading association for supply chain and operations, say company leadership is not providing the mandate, incentives, and resources to turn supply chain sustainability into action. Read this report to find out more.

5/6/14 | Human resource services

Our US benchmarking service recently published hundreds of metrics that reinforce the business improvement opportunity available to HR departments today - if they can align workforce performance to business strategy, supported by effective data.

In today’s business and social media environment, an issue in a company’s supply chain can have widespread and lasting impacts on customers and the bottom line. And the C-suite is paying attention.

10Minutes

4/29/14 | Sustainable business solutions

Investors have been showing increased interest in the correlations between financial performance and sustainability factors like resource scarcity, environmental performance and corporate governance when assessing a company’s future risk and growth opportunities. Is your company ready to respond? This 10Minutes highlights insights and benefits companies can glean into these issues by integrating their thinking to develop a better understanding of impacts to their businesses, allowing them to tell a more holistic value creation story.

4/23/14 | Transaction services

The number of logistic transactions is on the rise and private equity and industry players continue to look for strategic purchases, particularly of specialty 3PL providers. Third-party logistics providers are becoming increasingly indispensable due to their high level of customization, service quality, or service accuracy. Because of the number of well-capitalized players and the need for this operational intelligence and sophisticated capabilities, we expect this momentum of deals to continue.

4/17/14 | Human resource services

This PwC publication presents our analysis of 2009 through 2012 year-end proxy disclosures for 100 large public companies relative to their compensation recoupment or “clawback” policies. When providing employees with bonuses, stock options, or other incentive awards, companies often establish provisions that allow them to recoup all or a portion of the award under certain circumstances. These provisions, referred to as clawbacks, are detailed by most public companies in their annual proxy statement.

M&A snapshot

4/7/14 | Assurance services

This is the second in our series focused on navigating the waters of a cross-border acquisition. The series looks at various aspects along the deal continuum, including pre-acquisition due diligence and strategies, financial reporting requirements, tax implications, and post-acquisition considerations. This edition provides insights on SEC and other financial reporting requirements that may apply in a cross-border acquisition.

4/2/14 | Transaction services

The robust market for initial public offerings (IPOs) continued in the first quarter of 2014, and momentum is expected to remain strong into the second quarter, according to IPO Watch, a quarterly survey of IPOs listed on U.S. stock exchanges by PwC US.

4/2/14 | Human resource services

HR Innovation offers advanced thinking about the challenges that should be uppermost on the minds and agendas of organizations and their Human Resources (HR) leaders. In this issue of HR Innovation, we focus on the continually changing HR landscape and what organizations need to do to take control of today’s opportunities and tomorrow’s decisions.

4/2/14 | Transaction services

M&A in pursuit of innovation is a high-potential source of growth. That's what we learned in a survey of tech companies, where 76 percent of innovation-focused acquisitions met or exceeded expectations. Led by the right inorganic growth strategy and accompanied by a holistic approach to deal execution, business leaders in all industry sectors can apply key lessons learned from innovation-intensive industry sectors to their own business and accelerate growth. Read to explore the key success factors in acquiring innovation.

4/2/14 | Transaction services

Over the past several years, interest in Africa as a destination for investment has been growing at a steady clip. Private equity was the first to make serious inroads into this heterogeneous continent of 54 countries. More recently, multinational corporations and a variety of other investors have entered the fray.

4/1/14 | Transaction services

In 2008 and 2011, our tri-annual M&A Integration survey reports underscored the need for early planning and an accelerated transition as critical factors for successful integration. This 2014 survey report confirms these factors remain in today’s deals, and offers additional insights – showing that while early planning and rapid transition remain important, the commitment to integration completion over the long-term can be the deciding factor for deal success.

M&A snapshot

3/6/14 | Assurance services

This is the first in a series focused on navigating the waters of a cross-border acquisition. This edition focuses on the pre-acquisition phase, including how GAAP differences can impact valuation and how a company can manage the financial risk exposure that arises from a cross-border acquisition.

10Minutes

2/26/14 | Advisory services

Data protection and privacy is an urgent issue for both consumers and businesses. As customers increasingly worry whether their personal information is secure and used appropriately, companies are also concerned about protecting data and their brand. This 10Minutes highlights the importance of viewing consumer privacy from more than just a compliance lens and developing a strategy and action plan that will help businesses lead on data privacy by building customer trust and enhancing their brand.

1/23/14 | US Capital Markets and Accounting Advisory Services

Strong demand for IPOs continued in the fourth quarter of 2013, capping a robust year for the capital markets and setting the stage for continued growth in 2014. The window for raising capital in a robust IPO market tends to open with bursts of popularity then close quickly. This requires a constant state of readiness for the required IPO document that is filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission “SEC”. Don’t let unforeseen financial reporting items be the road block to accessing the IPO markets.

Implementing a structured vendor payable program? Be wary - changes to the terms of the trade payable could affect balance sheet classification and debt covenant ratios.

10Minutes

12/10/13 | Risk Assurance

Businesses depend on service providers to handle confidential data, run essential business processes, and manage critical technology. This can leave businesses vulnerable to service provider breakdowns. The result can be the providers’ clients violating regulations and even losing customer trust. Yet many businesses may know less than they realize about their service providers’ controls. This 10Minutes discusses how SOC 2 and SOC 3 reports can give businesses the picture they need to have solid confidence in their service providers.

11/24/13 | Human resource services

This PwC publication includes an analysis of comments made by the SEC staff to registrants published on the SEC’s website between January 1, 2013 and September 15, 2013 related to pensions and postretirement benefits other than pensions (OPEB). There were 37 companies that received one or more comments related to pensions and OPEB during that period, for a total of 78 comments.

Investors are more interested than ever in understanding the risks that today's companies face. Read what investors had to say at PwC's inaugural Investor Exchange.

10Minutes

10/2/13 | Advisory services

New research shows that high-performing supply chains can achieve sales and revenue growth while managing costs. That sounds like a tall order, but there are things you can do now to manage your supply chain as a strategic asset to boost performance and profitability. This 10Minutes highlights how the supply chain can move your business strategy forward and set you apart from the competition.

Point of view

8/13/13 | Assurance services

This Point of view highlights how companies may benefit from integrated reporting in response to stakeholders’ calls for enhanced disclosure of environmental, social, governance and other nonfinancial information. It also outlines the benefits some companies are realizing as they explore integrated reporting.

10Minutes

7/15/13 | Center for Board Governance

Whistleblower reform is having significant impact. The SEC’s Office of the Whistleblower has one full year of operation under its belt, and with it 3,001 tips and two awards to date. Leading companies are looking closely at the Office’s first-year report and drawing lessons for building stronger ethics and compliance programs. They’re also considering what it takes to create a highly ethical culture. This 10Minutes highlights the importance of having an ethical culture at the workplace.

10Minutes

6/26/13 | Sustainable business solutions

Eco-efficiency can reduce costs for your company. And there are broader benefits, too: a stronger brand, greater productivity, and mitigated risk. Still, opportunities to save money while reducing your company’s use of energy, transportation fuel, waste, water, forest products or chemicals are often short-changed. Why? It’s most likely due to overlooked-but-valuable information.

10Minutes

6/4/13 | Assurance services

After three years of outreach and deliberation, the IASB and FASB recently issued a revised proposal to overhaul the rules on accounting for leases, a move that could significantly boost US companies' reported debt.

5/30/13 | PwC Investor Resource Institute

Given the accounting method typically used by companies to report the effects of plan changes, several have made a discretionary change in how they account for their pension plans to increase the transparency of their accounting and improve their financial reporting.

COSO has published a PwC-authored update to its framework, the first in over 20 years, which gives you an opportunity to refresh your controls for today's environment.

Dataline

5/14/13 | Assurance services

On May 14, 2013, COSO published an updated Internal Control-Integrated Framework and related illustrative documents. This Dataline highlights noteworthy updates to the Framework, summarizes the purpose of the illustrative documents, and highlights key considerations for clients.

10Minutes

5/9/13 | Assurance services

10Minutes on conflict minerals provides insight into the strategic benefits and risks companies will want to focus on as they comply with the SEC's conflict minerals rule. The rule is effective for 2013 calendar year operations, so regardless of whether companies view conflict minerals as a supply chain opportunity, risk to their brand or another regulatory to-do, they should act now to prepare.

This edition of Mergers & acquisitions — a snapshot provides an overview of the accounting rules and a glimpse into some of the issues companies face in the accounting and valuation of acquired IPR&D.

M&A snapshot

12/13/12 | Assurance services

The acquisition of a business can have a significant impact on both the risk exposures and risk management strategies of the combined entity. In many cases, an acquirer’s financial risk exposure will increase as a result of the acquisition. However, there may be situations in which the acquiree’s operations reduce the acquirer’s current risk exposure. In any event, identifying potential changes in enterprise risks, creating an action plan to address them, and managing changes to risk management strategies post-acquisition are critical to developing short- and long-term solutions for integrating financial risk management considerations in an acquisition.

M&A snapshot

4/25/12 | Assurance services

Companies preparing to go public often face a number of issues related to their financial statements. A common issue is whether push-down accounting should be applied. Push-down accounting is the practice of adjusting the standalone financial statements of an acquired company to reflect the basis of accounting of the buyer. This edition of Mergers & acquisitions - a snapshot, provides an overview of the SEC's rules on push-down accounting and a high-level summary of the complexities and opportunities that can arise in applying the rules to common deal structures.

M&A snapshot

12/14/11 | Assurance services

Determining whether an acquired group of assets is a business has proven to be one of the more challenging aspects of applying the current M&A accounting guidance. For many transactions, the determination will be straightforward. However, the current guidance will cause many transactions that are "on the edge," and previously would have been accounted for as asset acquisitions, to be accounted for as business combinations. This edition identifies relevant considerations in determining whether a business has been acquired and why it matters not only upon acquisition but also for disposals and public company reporting.

M&A snapshot

9/26/11 | Assurance services

In a business combination, buyers are required to record the acquired assets and assumed liabilities of a business at their fair values. Fair value reflects the price that market participants would receive to sell an asset or pay to transfer a liability. Assets and liabilities may be used differently by different market participants, resulting in variations in values. Therefore, a market participant's view is an important aspect of the valuation process as a buyer cannot look only to its own intended use of an asset or its ability to transfer a liability at a certain price. This publication provides insight on the identification of market participants, as well as how entities can develop market participant assumptions.

M&A snapshot

12/16/10 | Assurance services

The M&A Standards changed how a parent reports the minority shareholder interests in a partially owned subsidiary in its consolidated financial statements. The minority shareholder interests, or noncontrolling interests (''NCI''), are generally presented within equity as if the parent and the minority shareholders have similar economic interests. Previously, NCI were generally presented between liabilities and equity (''mezzanine equity''). This edition focuses on the classification of redeemable NCI and how different minority shareholder rights may lead to different financial reporting by the parent.

M&A snapshot

9/30/10 | Assurance services

In many M&A transactions, companies looking to dispose of non-core businesses or to generate cash may sell only a portion of their operations (e.g., a subsidiary or a business unit). As part of these transactions, a seller may need, or want, to prepare separate financial statements of the operations being sold, commonly referred to as carve-out financial statements. The preparation of these financial statements can be challenging as there is limited guidance covering their composition. This volume of Mergers & Acquisitions - A snapshot, focuses on some of the issues companies may face when preparing carve-out financial statements, how those statements may differ from their own financial statements, and how the M&A Standards may impact...

M&A snapshot

3/11/10 | Assurance services

FASB Accounting Standard Codification Topic 810 incorporates FAS 167, Amendments to FASB Interpretation No. 46(R)), which is the U.S. standard on consolidation (the Consolidation Standard). The Consolidation Standard is effective as of January 1, 2010 for calendar year end companies and the impact will soon be reported in the first quarter reporting cycle. As a result of applying the new guidance, certain entities may need to be consolidated while other entities may need to be deconsolidated. Determining who consolidates is just the beginning.

M&A snapshot

2/25/10 | Assurance services

In many M&A transactions, when the buyer and seller cannot agree on the total purchase price in an acquisition, the two parties agree to an additional payment, or contingent consideration, based on the outcome of future events. These payments are commonly referred to as earnouts and are typically based on revenue or earnings targets that the acquired company must meet after the acquisition date. The accounting for these arrangements under the M&A Standards represents a significant change from past practice.

M&A snapshot

11/30/09 | Assurance services

In many M&A transactions, a buyer may acquire assets it does not intend to use. Prior to the M&A Standards, buyers generally would assign little or no value to assets that are not intended to be used when accounting for an M&A transaction. Now, such assets are required to be recognized at fair value from a market participant perspective, even if that perspective differs from that of the actual buyer. One common type of asset that a buyer does not intend to actively use that is receiving considerable attention is called a "defensive asset."

M&A snapshot

7/1/09 | Assurance services

Accounting for partial acquisitions and disposals - it's not so simple! In an economic environment where many companies are buying and selling portions of businesses, the M&A Standards will have an impact on how companies account for these types of transactions. At first glance, the fundamental concept of "control" that drives the accounting seems easy to understand. If a company gains control, the acquisition is a business combination. If a company loses control, it deconsolidates the subsidiary. If a company maintains control, the transaction is recorded in equity. Simple, right? Not so fast!

M&A snapshot

4/1/09 | Assurance services

Doing a deal? How will you compensate employees of the target? The new M&A Standards may impact your decision. Determining whether employee arrangements represent compensation for service prior to and/or after the acquisition will have a direct impact on the amount included as purchase price versus the amount expensed in the future. This installment of Mergers & Acquisitions - A snapshot explores some of the more common issues related to employee compensation arrangements typically seen in business combinations... contingent consideration, golden parachutes and stay bonuses, and exchanges of stock compensation awards. Employee compensation decisions agreed upon during deal negotiations could impact the acquirer's future financial results.

M&A snapshot

3/1/09 | Assurance services

Are you ready for volatility in your effective tax rate? The new M&A standards will likely impact a company's effective tax rate. This impact will be felt by acquisitive companies in all industries, public and private, and as early as the first quarter of 2009 because parts of the new M&A standards apply to prior acquisitions. This installment of Mergers & Acquisitions—A snapshot focuses on how the accounting for merger and acquisition transactions will create volatility in an acquirer's effective tax rate in periods before and after an acquisition.

M&A snapshot

2/1/09 | Assurance services

Did you know that the new M&A standards could impact your company regardless of whether you plan to close a deal? Given the current economic environment, understanding the new M&A standards may not be a priority for many companies, particularly if M&A activity is not on the horizon in the foreseeable future. However, companies should be careful not to overlook the new M&A standards, as they may have a significant impact, even without a deal. This installment of Mergers & Acquisitions - A snapshot will help you avoid last-minute surprises by understanding how the new accounting and reporting standards for M&A may affect your financial reporting even though you haven’t closed a deal.

M&A snapshot

12/1/08 | Assurance services

Since the adoption of FAS 142, the goodwill impairment standard, the equity markets have generally trended upward. Accordingly, impairments may not have been as frequent as we expect to see them today. This edition of Mergers & Acquisitions - A snapshot, focuses on some of the issues companies may face in preparing goodwill impairment tests in the current environment. It also serves as a refresher on certain aspects of the framework for conducting those tests.

M&A snapshot

10/1/08 | Assurance services

Recognizing that the new standards affecting mergers and acquisitions — FAS 141(R) and FAS 160 — will dramatically change the way companies negotiate and account for M&A, PwC has launched the first in a series of publications that will help companies keep abreast of emerging issues resulting from the new standards, as well as provide them with ideas on modifying current strategies and employing new ones for future deals. This first installment of Mergers & Acquisitions - A snapshot focuses on how the accounting treatment for M&A transactions will depend considerably on whether the deal closes before or after the effective date of the new standards.